what will happen if i give it a wash before useing it? i am about to set a 120g tank and i see YME having problems, what do you guys think?
thank

I never have, but if you add soil to water and swish it around= mud.

You can simply filter or water change it.
Fill slowly, do not move plants all over.

Once plants root well, be careful uprooting them often etc and if so, filter and clean well after.

AS is not that bad, but I've seen some cases where folks have a mess.
But some routine normal work and they get back to clear tank.

Regards,
Tom Barr